Germany set a new record in the first half of this year, with renewable energy generation covering around 58% of its electricity consumption, according to preliminary calculations by industry group BDEW and the Center for Solar and Hydrogen Research (ZSW). submit DPA.

The expansion of renewable energies has a central role in the German Government’s efforts to meet its climate goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Of Germany’s 58% renewable energy generation, 24% came from onshore wind, 14% from photovoltaics, 9% from biomass, 5% from hydropower, 5% from offshore wind and 1% from the generation of electricity from municipal waste.

In the period January-June 2024, the share of renewables in electricity consumption in Germany increased to 58%, from 52% in the first half of 2023, according to Agerpres.

Renewables accounted for a significant share of Germany’s electricity consumption in each month through June, and as of April the share was 59%.

“In particular, photovoltaic systems produced a total of 37 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), a significantly higher amount of electricity than in previous years, following the record expansion in 2023,” BDEW and ZSW state.

In June, for the first time, photovoltaic systems generated more than 10 billion kWh of electricity. And hydroelectric energy generated 12 billion kWh of electricity.

“The data is a reward for the persistent expansion of wind and photovoltaic energy in recent years. But, despite the encouraging data, the generation of electricity from the wind and the sun is not constant. We need to ensure energy in the system also during the periods when the sun does not shine and the wind is not blowing,” said Kerstin Andreae, president of the BDEW Board.

Germany’s objective is for energy production from renewable sources to reach 80% of total electricity production by 2030.